Frame hanger

ABSTRACT

Picture frame assembly comprising a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in its opposite sides and a similar groove in one end, and a rigid back plate slidably receivable within the grooves, and an integral hanging clip having a U-shaped retaining portion slideably positioned between one of the grooves and one of the edges of the back plate, a spacing portion and a hanging portion extending inwardly from the frame element, offset from the exterior of the back plate, for receiving an external hanging device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved picture hanger. More particularly,it relates to an assembly which may be either integral with or attachedto a frame during its manufacture to provide both a laterallyadjustable, rugged hanger and a decorative backing for the frame. Anexample of a picture hanger which is somewhat related to the inventionherein disclosed may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,542 to J. R. Peach.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Picture hangers embodying this invention may be attached to a frame by aconsumer or may be adapted for incorporation into the frame by the framemanufacturer. When the frame and hanger are purchased as a unit, ahanger is provided which may be either hung on a screw or nail orsuspended from a wire, may be adapted for either vertical or horizontalhanging of picture frames and may be easily adjusted to compensate forunbalanced weight distribution in the frame or its contents, all withoutthe use of tools. By a simple procedure, likewise requiring no tools, aframe hung vertically may be removed from the wall, have its contentsreplaced, and be rehung horizontally. Additionally, the inventionprovides an improved frame appearance in that the hanger is designed toremain out of sight behind the picture on even the most narrow framedesigns, and a decorative backing is provided. A frame manufacturer mayeasily utilize the invention with frames of various sizes and weights toprovide durable and strong assemblies which are simple and inexpensiveto manufacture.

In general, the invention is directed to a picture frame assembly andhanging clip therefor. The frame assembly comprises a frame elementhaving inwardly facing, opposed recesses, preferably in the form ofgenerally U-shaped grooves, in its opposite sides, with a similar groovein one end, all grooves being in a common plane, and a rigid back platehaving front and rear faces, with its side edges and one end edge beingslideably receivable within the grooves of the frame element through itsopen end. The integral hanging clip has a U-shaped retaining portionslideably retained between one of the grooves and one of the plateedges, an offset spacing portion extending away from the frame elementand a hanging portion spaced from the exterior face of the back platefor receiving an external hanging device between the clip and the backplate to support the assembly from a wall or the like. In preferredembodiments, the frame element may be rigidly secured to the rear faceof a frame or may be an integral part of the frame; the hanging portionof the clip may have a notch, slot or hole on its lower edge forreceiving a nail; and the retaining portion of the clip may havegripping means for engaging the back plate.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings herein of a preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a picture frame including theassembly and clip of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled frame of FIG. 1 ready forhanging;

FIG. 3 is a perspective detailed view of the hanging clip of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a section of the assembly of the invention taken along line5--5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a three-sided frame element 14 defininginwardly facing opposed grooves 40, 42 and end groove 44 is rigidlysecured to the rear face 10 of a frame 12 of wood, metal, plastic or thelike. As seen in FIG. 5, one of the sides 16 of grooves 40, 42 and 44may taper inwardly to improve its frictional engagement with the backplate. Frame element 14 is manufactured by extruding a resilient plasticmaterial to form a continuous grooved strip. The strip is then cut tofit the desired frame lengths, mitered to form corners, and rigidlyattached by stapling, gluing, tacking, or the like to provide saidinwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves 40, 42 and 44. Thedimensions and strength of the strip will vary depending on the weightof frame 12 and on the width of its rear face 10. Alternatively, theframe may be directly grooved, without utilizing an auxiliary plasticstrip, or auxiliary strips of wood or metal may be utilized, with thedesired frictional engagement being accomplished by adding layers ofsheet filler material 39, such as cardboard, between the front glass andback plate of the frame.

Back plate 20 comprises a rigid, flat piece of cardboard or the likewith a decorative covering on its exterior face 19. Its thickness may beslightly greater than the distance between the inside edges of sides 16which define grooves 40, 42 and 44 to aid its frictional engagement orintermediate layers of sheet filler material 39 may be used for thispurpose as noted above. The length and width of back plate 20 are chosento slide snugly within frame element 14.

Hanging clip 22 is formed from an integral, single piece of thin,resilient sheet metal or plastic and comprises a U-shaped retainingportion 24 having spaced parallel legs, inner leg 23 and outer leg 25with connecting semi-circular loop 29, a spacing portion 26 at theterminal end of outer leg 25 extending away from inner leg 23, and aninwardly directed hanging portion 28 extending from spacing portion 26in the same direction as inner leg 23 and parallel thereto and offsetfrom outer leg 25. The inner leg 23 of retaining portion 24 fits betweenback plate 20 and the inner side of groove 40, 42 or 44, itssemicircular connecting loop 29 over the edge 21 of back plate 20; andits outer leg 25 fits between back plate 20 and the outer side of groove40, 42, or 44 of frame element 14. Retaining portion 24 inner leg 23 hasan extension 30 having a sharp-edged, crescent-shaped cutout 32 bentslightly toward outer leg 25 and hanging portion 28 providing a grippingelement. Spacing portion 26 serves to position the upper part of frame12 offset a short distance from the wall upon the frame is to be hungand provides a lip 27 for receiving a suspension wire. Hanging portion28 at its free end has a notch 34 on its lower edge 36 for receiving anail or screw 43 affixed to the hanging site.

In operation, the picture, mirror, or the like 38 is placed on ledge 18of frame 12. If necessary, a layer of filler material 39, such ascorregated cardboard, is placed over the back of the picture so that,when back plate 20 is inserted, the contents of the frame will befrictionally held in position. After clip 22 is placed on the desirededge of back plate 20 (FIG. 1), the plate is slid through open end 13into opposing grooves 40, 42 until it enters end groove 44. The frame isthen hung by resting notch 34 on a nail, screw or the like or be restingspacing portion 26 on a wire. If the frame hangs at an angle, the clip22 may be adjusted (FIG. 2) by laterally sliding it along frame element14 and backing plate edge 21 to insure balanced weight distribution. Theweight of the frame and its contents is supported by the clip throughthe firmly affixed frame element 14. The back plate is held in place bythe friction hold of the sides 16 of grooves 40, 42 and 44 or by fillermaterial 39. When the clip is to be mounted on end groove 44, grippingcutout 32 is pressed into the interior surface of back plate 22 (FIG. 5)before being inserted in the frame element. This grip, combined with theaforementioned frictional hold, prevents plate 20 from falling outthrough the open end 13 of frame 12.

Other embodiments are within the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A picture frame assembly comprising:a frameelement having inwardly facing, opposed, recesses in opposite sidesthereof in a common plane; a rigid back plate having front and rearfaces with its side edges and one edge receivable within said recesses;and an integral hanging clip having: a U-shaped retaining portionpositioned between one of said recesses and one of said edges andretained thereby for sliding movement therealong; .[.and.]. an offsethanging portion extending inwardly from said frame element and beingoutwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate for receivingan external hanging device between said clip and said back plate tosupport said frame assembly from a wall or the like.Iadd.; and, aspacing portion intermediate and connected to said retaining portion andsaid offset hanging portion and extending generally transversely of saidclip. .Iaddend.
 2. A picture frame assembly comprising:a frame elementhaving inwardly facing, opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in oppositesides thereof and a similar groove in one end thereof, all in a commonplane, the other end of said frame element being open in said plane; arigid back plate having front and rear faces with its side edges and oneend edge slideably receivable within said grooves through the open endof said frame element; and an integral hanging clip having: a U-shapedretaining portion positioned between one of said grooves and one of saidedges and retained thereby for sliding movement therealong; .[.and.]. anoffset hanging portion extending inwardly from said frame element andbeing outwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate forreceiving an external hanging device between said clip and said backplate to support said frame assembly from a wall or the like.Iadd.; anda spacing portion intermediate and connected to said retaining portionand said offset hanging portion and extending generally transversely ofsaid clip. .Iaddend.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said hangingportion of said clip has a notch on its lower edge for receiving ahanging device to support said assembly from a wall or the like.
 4. Theassembly of claim 2 wherein said retaining portion of said clip hasgripping means for engaging said back plate.
 5. A picture frame assemblycomprising:a frame element having inwardly facing, opposed, generallyU-shaped grooves in opposite sides thereof and a similar groove in oneend thereof, all in a common plane, the other end of said frame elementbeing open in said plane; a rigid back plate having front and rear faceswith its side edges and one end edge slideably receivable within saidgrooves through the open end of said frame element, said back platebeing frictionally held when received by said element, and an integralhanging clip having a U-shaped retaining portion positioned between oneof said grooves and one of said edges and retained thereby for slidingmovement therealong; .[.and.]. an offset hanging portion extendinginwardly from said frame element and being outwardly spaced from theexterior face of said back plate and having a notch on its lower edgefor receiving an external hanging device between said clip and said backplate to support said frame assembly from a wall or the like, saidretaining portion of said clip having gripping means for supporting saidback plate.Iadd., and a spacing portion intermediate and connected tosaid retaining portion and said offset hanging portion and extendinggenerally transversely of said clip. .Iaddend.
 6. The assembly of claim5 wherein said frame element is made of resilient material and the widthof said U-shaped grooves at their inner edges is slightly less than thethickness of said back plate, whereby, said back plate is pinched andfrictionally held when received by said element.
 7. For use with apicture frame assembly having:a frame element having inwardly facing,opposed, generally U-shaped grooves in opposite sides thereof and asimilar groove in one end thereof, all in a common plane the other endof said frame element being open in said plane; and a rigid back platehaving front and rear faces with its side edges and one end edgeslideably receivable within said grooves through the open end of saidframe element, an integral hanging clip comprising a U-shaped retainingportion having an outer leg and a spaced parallel inner leg adapted tobe positioned between one of said grooves and one of said edges andretained thereby for sliding movement therealong; a spacing portion atthe terminal end of said outer leg extending away from said inner legand a hanging portion extending from said spacing portion in the samedirection as said inner leg and parallel thereto, offset from saidretaining portion and adapted to extend inwardly from said frame elementto be outwardly spaced from the exterior face of said back plate, saidhanging portion having hanging means in its edge remote from saidspacing portion for receiving an external hanging device between saidclip and said back plate to support said frame assembly from a wall orthe like. .Iadd.8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said U-shapedretaining portion has an outer leg and a spaced parallel inner leg, andsaid spacing portion is connected to the end of said outer leg andextends generally away from said inner leg. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. Theassembly of claim 8 wherein said inner and outer legs of said U-shapedretaining portion are connected by a spacing portion extendingtransversely of said clip generally parallel to said spacing portionintermediate said outer leg and second hanging portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said hanging portion extendsfrom said spacing portion in the same direction as inner leg andgenerally parallel thereto. .Iaddend.